She craved adventure and passion she giggled to herself as she sat in the chair at the table designed for one. Her legs swung freely back and forth and she giggled again at herself. She always chose this table with the tall chair and the wood grain she so fondly traced her finger over. She whispered it a hello every Wednesday night at ten after 7. She would slide the chair around to allow a clear view of the tea hut and then she would raise to her tiptoes to get just the edge of her butt on the seat. Some shimmy and wiggles would finally place her butt where it belonged and her legs dangling above the wooden foot rest. She knew she looked silly, but refused to jump to get on the chair and the other tables had such a poor view.
She was not a tall girl 5 foot 3 is what her drivers license said but her doctors charts showed two inches shorter. She had never minded being short and didn't adopt the short person attitude. She was kind and a bit shy, at least until she got mad. Firecracker was her nickname through school and she smiled at the sweet memory from all those years ago. Where had the time gone?
"Hot and black," the barista confirmed. She looked to his eyes instead of the coffee. They were the most lovely green she had ever seen. So green in fact she had once asked him if they were contacts and was pleased to find out they weren't.
"Thank you, Erik," she smiled and stared. He was so used to the attention to his eyes from everyone that he barely noticed the staring anymore. They were his mothers eyes and the only thing she had ever given him.
"Food today?" he paused awkwardly and instantly frustrated. This woman had been in his tea hut every damn Wednesday for two years and he still could not get her to give up her name. She paid in cash, left good tips, flirted relentlessly and refused to budge on her name. Two years and the only thing he knew for sure was that she hated tea and to never put sugar in her coffee. He offered her once to just give him her name in place of paying. He had left a pen and paper on her table and upon clearing it found a twenty dollar bill and a note 'Corner Girl, at least that's what I hear you call me!' She had beautiful feminine handwriting all twirly and soft.
"Surprise me tonight, don't say Boo to me, surprise me with some delicious food," she smiled at their little game. "I am utterly starving."
"Steak it is."
"I will leave and never come back."
"Damn vegans," he shook his finger at her. "Never can take a joke."
"Tortured and murdered animals are not a joke to me," her eyebrows raised in defiance. He knew she was vegan, hell his whole restaurant was vegan, but he did love getting a rise out of her. He said nothing as he slunk away to the kitchen. He had already started her food, knowing she would want something sweet and savory followed by comfort food. She always started with her desert first, just in case she chocked on it and died. "Don't want to die eating broccoli." she would repeat.
Joe, his chef, pointing to a corner, "When are you going to ask Corner Girl out? You have been wanting to be ball deep in her for years. When are you going to make your move?"
"When she gives me her damn name," Erik barked. "I know nothing about her, she showed up opening night and keeps showing up. That's all I know. What am I supposed to do, Hey Corner Girl wanna go out and do something?"
"Well that does sound a lot better than, Hey Corner Girl wanna let me in your pants?" Joe ducked as Erik threw a wooden spoon at him. "Foods up!"
Erik delivered a molten lava chocolate cake to her table and a steaming vegetable pot pie. They were both ones she ordered frequently so he knew it was a good choice. He sat them on the table and feeling defeated already tonight just walked away. He did want to date her but he knew it was no use, she would never let him in.